Guillaume Marion, Media365 : published on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Feeling quite frustrated by the new regulations, could Max Verstappen call it quits this year? While the threat seems real, F1 may act to prevent such a departure.
Four-time world champion, is this Max Verstappen’s final season in Formula 1? The question deserves to be asked because the Dutchman keeps repeating that the new regulations are bothering him to the core. Placing only 8th in last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver is having a rough start to the season, currently ranking 9th in the drivers’ standings after three races (with 12 points).
“I know we can’t fight for victory in every race. I am very realistic about it, and I have experienced this in the past, I haven’t only won in F1. But when you are in seventh or eighth place and not enjoying it, it doesn’t feel natural for a race driver,” recently declared the main BBC interviewee, who currently seems to be in serious doubt about his future.
Can F1 afford to lose Verstappen?
“I don’t think it’s a kind of threat to put pressure. Of course, he hopes that something will change, but I honestly feel that it’s a kind of promise: he will really stop if nothing changes in the direction taken next year or the following year,” explained Dutch journalist Erik van Haren, who is familiar with the Verstappen camp, in comments echoed by Motorsport.
However, some believe that F1 will do everything to avoid the departure of the Dutchman. “All parties involved have an interest in finding a solution. For economic and sport visibility reasons, Verstappen is crucial, and Formula 1 risks losing one of its iconic drivers” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport on this subject. Similar views from Christijan Albers. “They will do everything they can to keep him,” according to the former Dutch F1 driver. This is a developing story.
